road less traveled for jacket nuts? the N-2B flight jacket...am i crazy 4 loving it?

[Doctor Damage]

I have a New era Non-military Alpha N2.B That I sweat in a lot, when the time came it went into the shower with me, and turned the water green-ish. didnt hurt the Jacket, it smelled the same, looked the same etc. no visible change despite the Dye washing out a little. But the machine wash will Destroy one of these easily, I have a Jacket someone literally ruined this way.

I just picked up one of those jackets, USA made and with the metal zipper, and the thicker pile in the hood. It's certainly not as heavy as vintage nylon, but it performed fine in the snowstorm I just walked through. I love the hood - finally, I can keep my head warm. I suppose an N3B would be warmer in theory, but there's no way to seal up the bottom of those, so I actually prefer the knit waistband on the N2B since it keeps the wind from blowing up my skirts, lol Plus it's long enough in the torso to fit me, unlike vintage and military nylon.

 

[bn1966]

Nice one Doc, those civvy Alpha N-2Bs (mine was a late 80s model) are longer in fit than my late service model. Here's to a warm head & whatever you've got under your skirt

 

[Dumpster Diver]

It is True, I find the N2-B a very high cut Jacket, It rides up on me when I am on my bike. It was obvious they were worn with something like a pair of A-11 Trousers.

Doesnt deter me from wearing it, but sometimes I wish the weight of the hood wouldnt cause the back to ride up from time to time.

 

[Clothes Horse]

Looks to be an old thread but what the heck.............. I do have a Desert Shield/Desert Storm Flight Jacket and it IS a original. Great coat!........... very comfortable to wear and warm Have a look. Here.

 

[Atticus Finch]

Took me a while to warm up to the CWUs, but I'm glad I did. They are warm and comfortable and long enough to wear with jeans. And their pockets are useful. Also, they tend to be generously cut...comfortable for roundish guys like me.

AF

 

[Doctor Damage]

Took me a while to warm up to the CWUs, but I'm glad I did. They are warm and comfortable and long enough to wear with jeans. And their pockets are useful. Also, they tend to be generously cut...comfortable for roundish guys like me.

AF

They also fit tall thinnish fellows like me, unlike the older nylon jackets. I love them too.

Also, we have a dedicated thread for nomex CWU jackets, so perhaps a mod can move Clothes Horse's post to that thread instead.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Alpha apparently did a Replica version of the N2B...

 

[bn1966]

I just sold one

 

[bn1966]

Alpha N-2B quite N-2A like if a bit too dark a Blue. My latest original N-2A below:

 

[a2jacketpatches]

I've got a super condition N2-A

 

[Doctor Damage]

Alpha apparently did a Replica version of the N2B...

That jacket is on e-Bay UK and I asked the seller, but it's too short for me, only 22" down the back. I explained to him that he's got a Replica Series jacket from the 1990s and that he should be selling it for a lot more than 30 quid!

 

[bn1966]

Not much of a market for them over here, sold mine for £20.00 after advertising it for many weeks on the Bay. In the end offloaded it cheap so at least someone would get some wear out of it. I have too many jackets! & I haven't stopped acquiring yet

I could sell MA-1s all day long & B-15s! L-2Bs can be hard to shift though.

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ It's a big surprise to me that a Replica series jacket has no value. I notice that the seller has raised the price; I guess I should tell him your experience, although perhaps he'll get lucky. He told me he was thinking of keeping it and he should.

- - - - -

here's a nice looking vintage one:

 

[bn1966]

He should keep it!!! Replica Series sells Ok over here apart from N-2B it would seem. Mine was great quality just surplus to requirements having purchased two originals & an N-2A

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[MeachamLake]

Is it just me, or are all these N2-B jackets REALLY short in the body? I'm looking at XLs that have a 23 inch body length which seems incredibly short...I usually wear 27.5 or 28 inch back length! :O

 

[bn1966]

They are on the short side, my 90's Alpha service issue is very short, my 70's N-2B & 50's
N-2A not as much so.

 

[Doctor Damage]

These things are extremely short. Best to avoid if you're a Tall/Long size, unless you wear extremely high-waisted pants (or overalls).

 

[MeachamLake]

These things are extremely short. Best to avoid if you're a Tall/Long size, unless you wear extremely high-waisted pants (or overalls).

Thanks guys. Sadly confirms what I suspected! Does nobody make a long/tall version?

I tried on an N2-B clone in H&M the other day and really liked the style. It's a shame nobody seems to focus on reproducing historically authentic nylon jackets outside of the Japanese makers.